LOMÉ, August 17, 2026 — Local governments in Togo face a critical challenge: meeting public expectations without adequate and well-managed resources. This pressing issue brings together municipal leaders from Golfe 2, Golfe 3, Agoè-Nyivé 5, and Agoè-Nyivé 6 to a three-day workshop in Golfe 7 from August 17 to 19, 2026.
The training session focuses on financial resource mobilization, equipping local officials with advanced techniques to boost communal revenues and optimize their management. This initiative aligns with the National Training Plan spearheaded by the National Training Agency for Local Authorities (ANFCT).
Financial autonomy: the cornerstone of effective governance
For municipalities, the challenge extends beyond discovering new funding streams. It also revolves around securing existing revenue, enhancing collection efficiency, and converting mobilized funds into tangible public services. The financial resources available to a local government directly determine its ability to finance infrastructure, maintain equipment, and address social and economic demands.
In this landscape, strengthening the skills of local officials and financial managers emerges as a pivotal governance issue. The Golfe 7 workshop aims to address this by fostering hands-on skill development and fostering collaboration between municipalities.
Learning from local practices
The workshop was inaugurated on August 17 by Golfe Prefect Kossivi Agbodan, alongside Koffi Adaka, the third deputy mayor of Golfe 7, along with mayors, representatives, secretaries-general, and financial stakeholders from participating municipalities.
Speaking on behalf of the Mayor-Senator, Koffi Adaka emphasized the session’s role in building genuine financial autonomy for local governments. He urged participants to fully leverage the three-day program through knowledge-sharing and practical solutions tailored to local realities.
The training goes beyond theoretical instruction, encouraging participants to compare their methods, identify operational challenges, and develop actionable strategies to refine their resource mobilization mechanisms.
Balancing revenue growth with disciplined management
Prefect Agbodan underscored another critical priority during the opening session: strict financial governance. He stressed that simply increasing revenues is insufficient if funds are mismanaged. For municipalities to thrive, financial discipline, transparency, and rigorous oversight must accompany revenue growth.
This dual focus transforms the workshop into more than a training exercise—it becomes a platform to ensure every collected franc translates into meaningful public value. The goal is clear: empower municipalities to allocate resources effectively and advance their development agendas.
From knowledge to action: a three-day commitment
Over the course of three days, participants will engage in workshops designed to deepen their expertise, exchange best practices, and explore strategies to sustainably enhance financial mobilization and management. The training reflects ANFCT’s commitment to supporting local governments in Togo’s decentralization journey.
For the four participating municipalities, the challenge now is to translate these new insights into concrete actions that strengthen their financial resilience and, ultimately, their ability to serve their communities better.
